I Hear the Clattering of the Keys

by Jamie Stewart

I HEAR THE CLATTERING OF THE KEYS (AND OTHER FEVER DREAMS)
by Jamie Stewart

This debut collection from Jamie Stewart is a collection of macabre tales where ordinary lives find themselves shattered by forces that lurk on the fringes of existence.

Meet Alan Madden, who only wants to offer his son advice, even after his death; or Susie Granger, who worries for her neighbour Jane, known to everyone else as The Witch of Denison Street; or Sabina Kyle, who gets a special birthday present that - for a price - can make her dreams come true.

Jamie Stewart, co-editor of Welcome to the Funhouse, presents seven nightmarish tales that peel back the skin of normality to show that insanity and horror are only a scrape away.

Including:

Dead Air
Insular
Trick or Treat
The Beach House
Alfie and the Dead Girls
The Woman Under the White Tree
I Hear the Clattering of the Keys

193 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2021

About the author

Jamie Stewart is a horror author and editor. His books include PRICE MANOR: THE HOUSE THAT BLEEDS, I HEAR THE CLATTERING OF THE KEYS (AND OTHER FEVERS DREAMS) and MR. JONES. He has co-edited such anthologies as WELCOME TO THE FUNHOUSE for BLOOD RITES HORROR and THE SACRAMENT, which is coming this October from DARK LIT PRESS. His short stories can be found in various anthologies, podcasts and Youtube channels.

Jamie lives in Northern Ireland with his wife and dogs, Poppy and Henry. He can be found on Instagram @jamie.stewart.33 where he reviews and promotes books.

Reviews

[Jamie Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m taking Briana Morgan’s advice on this - if I don’t believe in myself, why would anyone else - which is why I’m reviewing it. 😊

[Michael Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read a few of Stewart's stories earlier this year, I was excited to get an advance copy of his debut collection. Let me tell you right now: once you start reading these stories, you won't want to stop.

These stories will haunt you. They are savage and visceral, full of vivid imagery that leaves no question as to what Stewart wanted you to see. There is gore for those who seek it, along with terror, blistering action, and suspense. Stewart cuts not only to the chase but to the bone with these stories, but it's not all blood and gore. There are also moments that feel quite personal and heartfelt, proving that the intensities of both horror and the heart are not as distant as one might believe.

This is a must-read collection for any indie horror fan.

[Denver Grenell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The debut collection from Jamie Stewart serves up a fantastically varied array of horror stories, all quite different in intent & tone but all share Stewart’s strong sense of story & character. What really impressed me though was the propensity for the narratives to often veer in unexpected directions. More than once I thought I had the story figured out & was pleasantly surprised when the story zigged instead of zagged.

Here are my thoughts on the seven stories...
•
Dead Air:

The first story concerns a truck driver receiving a message from beyond the grave on his CB radio. A cracker of an opener, blackly comic & chilling.
•
Insular:

A sinister mystery set in a supermarket & the strange young man who comes to work there. A really strong story with hints of sci-fi & a thick existential dread.
•
Trick Or Treat:

An excellent Halloween themed story that cleverly subverts expectations by pivoting to a personal tale of loss & Vengeance.
•
The Beach House: a short sharp story about the titular house & what takes place there. A nice sense of teenage friendship & nostalgia. Leaves you wanting more in a good way.
•
Alfie & The Dead Girls

A nice surprise this one in that it doesn’t do what you might expect it to & uses an interesting structure to tell the story of a family & the case of the missing girls of the title. Strong thriller vibes here & it thankfully forgoes a lot of the standard tropes found in this sub genre.
•
The Woman Under the White Tree

An engrossing tale of religion & witchcraft, with detours into the history of the titular woman. Creepy & involving with a some great turns & some welcome sympathy for the ‘villain’.
•
I Hear The Clattering of the Keys

The opening of the final story cuts deep & then explores what led to the atrocity & then what came after. I would have liked more on the power of the typewriter & the hold it had over the main character, but it didn’t detract from the story. A great end to the collection.

[Samuel (Still Reading Sam) M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All my life I dreamed of creating stories that will be talked about beyond who I am as a person"
.
I Hear The Clattering of the Keys and other Fever Dreams is the upcoming collection of stories from Jamie Stewart (@jamie.stewart.33 ). A number of stories are housed within the book which includes (I'll do a brief outline of the story and star rating. No spoilers)
.
Dead Air - Karl Madden is driving a lorry when his long since dead father reaches out to him via the radio... 5/5 ⭐
Insular - Peter Earl Smith tells us decades ago he could have saved Julian Kensi and we hear the tale of the two men... 4.5/5 ⭐
Trick Or Treat - a tragedy hit 10 Dennison Street a year ago but events are still unfolding... (Hard to explain this one without spoilers. Trust me is good!) 4.5/5 ⭐
The Beach House - Our narrator and his friends used to spend a lot of time by the Irish Sea on a beach. But what secrets does the Beach House which over looks them hide?... 4.5/5 ⭐
The Woman Under The White Tree - Frank and Father Agnew are on a mission: to exorcise a Northern Irish road 👀... 5/5 ⭐ (my personal favourite but I did enjoy them all!)
I Hear The Clattering of The Keys - Our narrator murdered their partner and soon we hear of how the clattering of the keys ties into it... 4.5/5 ⭐
.
The collection comes out very soon, November 13th I believe. It's one I definitely recommend checking out for fans of horror! Thank you to Jamie for the ARC and letting me hear the Clattering of The Keys!
For this collection I give it 4.5/5 ⭐. Very well done and a number of great stories!

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This chilling collection of seven short stories is quite powerful despite its length. Like a cold serpent, the weird/gruesome elements slide unnoticed at first through mundane glimpses of life. It all starts very casual; It introduces you to these relatable people, living in relatable places, starting their relatable day at work or at home with their families. The realism makes these paranormal, creepy and gruesome tales even more disturbing. I liked the author’s blunt style, the unexpected twists and the complexity of his troubled characters. I wasn’t necessarily rooting for them, but I understood them and their reasons for acting in a certain way quite well. My favourite story was probably Trick or Treat; it’s so devastating and leaves you with an unsettling feeling of hollowness. The writer has a brilliant talent for breaking the wall between the reader and his words, as you actually experience a whirlwind of emotions, instead of just watching from the outside.
I feel like The Twilight Zone fans could enjoy these stories, it’s also a good fit for ghost and paranormal lovers.

[Stacey C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed myself a copy of I Hear the Clattering of the Keys (and Other Fever Dreams) after hearing Jamie talk about his work on a podcast I enjoy and I am very glad I did.
The stories in this collection are gripping. I was on edge from the first sentence right through to the final full stop. Each story crawled under my skin and set up camp, I am going to be looking over my shoulder for a while!
I was very taken in by the writing style. While it is exquisitely worded it never felt over-written or fell in to that horror abyss of relying too much on external description. I feel there was a perfect balance of scene setting and character introspection to give it the atmospheric punch it really delivers.
I had no hesitation in giving I Hear the Clattering of the Keys five stars and I look forward to reading more of Jamie Stewarts work.

[H. Everend · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a book written by Jamie. It was brought highly recommended to me, and it certainly did not disappoint. All seven stories within were excellently written and their vivid details really brought the stories to life in my mind. Every single story included was amazing, but I'd have to say my top three are: 1) 'The Woman Under the White Tree'. 2) 'Dead Air'. 3) 'I Hear The Clattering of the Keys'.

Exceptionally written, Jamie's writing style is unique and one I thoroughly enjoy. He knows know to pull the readers into the setting, the situation and everything else in between. You can get really immersed in the book and easily lose track of time. If you're a fan of horror and want to support indie authors, this is definitely one you need to check out.

[Lucretia Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of morbid scary short stories that will have you holding you blanket high over your nose with the lights on. Having you praying that these story don’t come to claim you as there next main character.

Jamie Stewart has made me a fan, Having me asking myself “when is Trick or Treat or The woman under the tree becoming a standalone story?” Because please sign me up to have me as test dummy to read each chapter as you write them I’ll be your Annie Wilkes because “I’m your number one fan.”

Keep them coming.

If you haven’t read it’s a must read.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid collection of stories. It's pretty short, with only seven stories, but I think this is a plus. I personally hate those super long short story collections that are like 400+ pages. Anyway, all these stories are interesting, well written, and a few take turns I definitely wasn't expecting. My two favorites were "Alfie and the Dead Girls" (which was chilling and had me on the proverbial edge of my seat. I actually wish this one was longer!) and the star is the title story. Great idea, executed wonderfully. I would suggest this collection to any short story horror fans

[Petrina Binney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing is strong, however it could have done with a final proofread - there were a handful of instances where the word ‘bought’ was used in place of ‘brought’. I have realised, however, that my irrational suspicion of ‘gotten’ - a wholly American word which has started creeping into standard UK English over the last couple of years - is illogical given that this reader has been saying ‘cigarette’ with the emphasis on the first syllable, rather than the last, for twenty-some years. So, get me. I’ve grown as a person.

My favourite story was Insular. I won’t ruin it for you, but you’ll never watch Family Guy’s spin on Take On Me the same way again. There are only seven stories in this collection but I really liked most of them. The imagery was strong and the characters were well-realised.

I didn’t care for the beginning of I Hear The Clattering Of The Keys. I don’t know what it is and I really don’t mean to be so protective about these things but it’s not always easy for a lesbian to read the story of a gay woman as written by a non-lesbian. There’s this weird obsession with sex which in itself isn’t problematic, but there’s no run-up. It’s straight in with the sex and such pride in the fictional orgasms that you sort of know it’s written by a guy. That said, the story perked up enormously with Shining-like overtones, and the whole collection had a Point Horror feel.

[Dave Musson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For transparency, I am friends with Jamie, was an early reader of this collection and even got a very kind shout-out in the acknowledgements section of this book. But, I’ve tried my best to not let that affect my review.

OK? Cool…

You know when you discover a cool new band and they’ve just released a cool little EP - a collection of tracks that are super cool but also show bags of potential? That’s what this collection from Jamie is like; it’s full of bangers and also hints at plenty more to come.

Across these seven stories, you get a tapas-style tasting menu of this exciting author’s talent. Gore? Check. Scary stuff? Check. Well-drawn, compelling characters? Check. Originality? Check. An ability to get under your skin and linger like a kiss goodbye from your most cherished person? Check.

But, most of all, Jamie knows had to tell a damned good story.

It’s difficult to pick a favourite from this collection, because - honestly - they’re all great. Of course, that makes for a cop out review, so I’ll plump for Dead Air and I Hear the Clattering of Keys as my champions, with an honourable mention for Beach House, a story that chills you more deeply than a story of so few pages has any right to do.

That’s not discounting the others though; Alfie and the Dead Girls and The Woman Under the White Tree both show Jamie’s skill at using dialogue and shaping characters that feel real and lived in, Trick or Treat is visceral and brilliant, while Insular - the one that started it all for Jamie - shows he is also a dab hand at being more literary in his horror too.

In short, this collection is great and will leave you wanting more from this guy…which is handy as more is coming this year. If his debut collection is this strong, just imagine what treats are still to come?

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consider this a warning: Jamie's brand of horror has a way of getting under your skin. It's like you've taken the wrong road, and ended up somewhere familiar and yet wholly strange. Where things are off-kilter, just to the left or right of normal. He takes you to places where the improbable feels possible, where honest sentiment and the inhumane commingle, and walks you through the horror with a disarming sensitivity. I Hear The Clattering of the Keyes and Other Fever Dreams is the debut collection from a writer to watch.

[Miguel Gonçalves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie Stewart's anthology is more than a collection of short stories. It's a collection of beautifully crafted masterpieces.

“In every town and city, in every country, there is a house like Number Ten Denison Street. It’s a building neighbouring adults refuse to look at but refer to at dinner parties when the drink flows. Their kids look – how can they not? – they are so far away from death and decay that such things are alien ideas.”

On its pages you'll find stories that were previously published in digital format but also others that are seeing the light of day for the first time.
The three previously published stories - Insular, Trick or Treat (review at bit.ly/3bhaE0c), and The Woman Under the White Tree - each deserve their own individual reviews but I'll just say something really quick about them. Insular is an example of how isolate one may feel even when surrounded by people, and the lengths one may go to feel accepted. Trick or Treat is a vengeance tale where a monster must be dealt with even if that means creating a new one. The Woman Under the White Tree is a story that will leave you wanting for more of that world and of those characters, a Supernatural-esque story of ghosts, redemption, and exorcisms.
And now to the unpublished ones. Dead Air is a tale of a driver who starts hearing familiar voices coming through the radio and how ghosts of the past tend to sneak up on you. The Beach House is a vision of the sacrifices some people are willing to endure and turn a blind eye to if it brings them what they most desire, but also of the sacrifices some have to do to stop evil.
Alfie & The Dead Girls was one of my favourite stories of this collection and had one of the best sequences I ever read (and also a slight connection with The Woman Under the White Tree). It's a story about a father, a daughter, and a predator. It may well be the heaviest story in this collection, even if hidden under a cloak of simplicity.
And so we came to the last story, which is also the name of the collection. I Hear the Clattering of the Keys is a tale of compulsion and a slow descent into madness. A writer, the pull of their typewriter, and what one is willing to sacrifice for one's work.

“It’s not my fault what happened, it’s Emily’s. She bought the damn thing. If it hadn’t been for her, the typewriter would never have entered into our lives, and I wouldn’t have had to slit her throat while she stood at the stove coaxing me to make dinner with her.”

Jamie Stewart writes in a way that makes you connect to the words, but also experience them.
Every word is a bit of magic, a breadcrumb pulling you deeper and deeper inside of that world until you can't escape.
This anthology is pure talent and one that a lover of well-crafted stories can't miss.

[Jeremy Megargee · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's no way to say this other than to just say it: Jamie Stewart is a phenomenal storyteller. His prose ensnared me instantly, and it never let go, it just dragged me through the pages until my mind came out tattered & bloody when the book ended.

I'm a sucker for short fiction, and this collection is a cookie jar full of dark flavors. Insular bends the brain with Twilight Zone vibes, Trick or Treat redefines vampirism, and I Hear the Clattering of the Keys is a story every single writer will relate to (the obsessive drive to reach into the ether & create)

A part of me pictures Stewart at the Royal typewriter described in his final story, feverish in his word weaving, because the power in these pages had to come from somewhere...

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. It takes a lot to spook me and we’ll this book did it. I can’t wait to read more of his work.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

In I Hear the Clattering of the Keys and Other Fever Dreams, there are seven short stories of various settings, but all seven are horror stories surrounding real life. There’s a truck driver, a retail manager, friends and parents. They’re very easy to relate to.

My favorite stories are Trick or Treat and The Woman Under the White Tree. Both contain a bit paranormal, but also revenge. We all know I love a revenge story. There are also a few stories that are reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, so if you love that show, definitely pick up this collection.

Thank you Jamie for allowing me to review your collection in advance! I Hear the Clattering of the Keys is available now.

[Lit.for.Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope this review does justice to this astonishing collection of horror tales! Though each story is striking on its own, they are intricately woven together by themes of true to life horror, vengeance, and redemption!

The author’s writing style really stood out to me in that he can seamlessly go from providing intricate, albeit gory details in a scene to a seemingly real dialogue between characters. I was blown away by his ability to build suspense within a short period of time!

I absolutely recommend this book to all you lovers of horror, whether you’re looking for a more realistic scare or a supernatural spook you are sure to enjoy this read!

[Christina B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up
•
A fun little collection of short stories! Jamie’s talent and potential are clear and I’m excited to read more from him in the future. I think there’s something here for any horror fan, but my personal favorites were Trick or Treat and The Woman Under the White Tree.

[Amanda (spooky.octopus.reads) Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I read my first Jamie Stewart, I became a fan of his writing style and the realness of his stories. Whether you want spooky Halloween vibes, parental horror, a ghostly haunting, or a story full of fear and regret, this collection has it! ⁣
⁣
My favorites included in this collection have to be…⁣
⁣
🎃 Trick or Treat - I love this so much the first time I read it, and the second time around didn’t disappoint. You’ll be hooked on this one as Jane waits for “The Reaper Man” to teach him a lesson for the disappearance of her son. I found myself smiling while reading this one as I rooted for Jane to exact her revenge. ⁣
⁣
💀 Allie & The Dead Girls - A parent’s nightmare is how I’d describe this one…almost difficult to read and envision but such a great and authentic short story. This one is sure to have your anxiety on high. ⁣
⁣
🌊 The Beach House - This one was short and quick, but it was full of creepiness and questions for me, but I loved it! The creepy house overlooking the sandy beach where a group of children play is hiding some dark secrets behind its walls. ⁣
⁣
🖤🖤🖤🖤/5- I find Stewart’s writing to be very full of descriptive prose and relatable characters. His writing is engaging and full of fears and that extra creep factor. This one releases this week, so just go ahead and add to cart now. 😁⁣
⁣

[looneybooks79 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book review ‘I hear the clattering of the Keys (and other fever Dreams)’ by @jamie.stewart.33 as part of the read along hosted by @theindiehorrorbookclub #iheartheclatteringofthekeys

Full review on http://looneybooks79.blog/2022/04/06/...

His longer stories such as Trick or Treat, Alfie and the Girls and The Woman under the White Tree leave an impression that he is the sort of writer that loves to grab you by the throat, squeezing it just enough to get your attention, leaving an imprint and have you craving for more!

Great job with this first collection! Earlier this year he also published ‘Price Manor: the House that Bleeds’, a series he wrote with Jay Alexander and Mike Salt (each wrote a book about Price Manor!) and later this year Jamie will publish ‘Montague’s Carnival of Delights and Terror’ so that’s something worth looking out for! All his books are available on Amazon!

On my blog you’ll find a little description and review for each separate story.

Let me finish by saying this was an amazing read, Trick or Treat was my favourite tale (followed by Alfie and Woman) and I sure hope to read more soon by Jamie! Well done!

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A memory thrust into the front of his mind with all the force of an ice pick"

The writing style is excellent. Vivid and realistic for some disturbing stories. A couple of the stories left me wanting more. I know, I know they are short stories but a couple of them were just too short and left me wanting just a couple more paragraphs to bring a full circle of completion.

My favorite of all 7 was called Insular and it is within these sentences that you really get to experience the "realistic" writing style. The words written in such a way you feel you are along side the characters.

Looking forward to reading more by this Author!

3.5⭐'s from me

[Andrew Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful and terrifying little collection from Jamie Stewart, offering up myths and monsters, bloody murder, the mysteries of death and glimpses of dark alternate worlds.

Jamie's style is eminently readable, his prose is snappy and sharp, and he reminds me very much of a younger Stephen King in the way he can take an idyllic setting and find the darkness behind the light.

My favourites from this collection were:

Insular

Trick or Treat

The Woman Under the White Tree

Insular in particular is my standout read from this collection. Sometimes our imaginations can take us to strange places...

There's one story in here which I wish had been a bit longer, but otherwise nothing negative to say.

I'm also very lucky to have a signed copy of this one. One of the jewels of my shelf! 🥳

4.5 stars rounded up.

[Elle Sie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of the stories in this really stood out to me as I found them very eerie; ‘Insular’ in particular was really well done. It kept up the suspense throughout and built on the feeling of creeping dread until the end about the mystery of Julian. My favourite was the last story, ‘The Woman under the White Tree’, especially the creepy description of Saiorse O’Sullivan. Overall it was a strong collection with a good mix of disturbing, like ‘Trick of Treat’, chilling and quietly haunting, as in ‘The Beach House’ and the variation in length of the stories kept it fresh.

[Cyndi McIntire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Hear the Clattering of the Keys by Jamie Stewart
A collection of short stories to give you a chill. My favorites are:
Trick or Treat -perfect mothers revenge and The Woman Under The White Tree.. again revenge.
And if you want obsession read the title story.. wow..

[Catarina Prata · Rating 4 out of 5]

An astoundingly good assortment of short stories, with creepy themes, nice imagery and a rich assortment of characters with whom to empathize - or not.
Jamie Stewart does it again, creating a marvellous and horried tale over and over again living you feverished and always up to turn the page.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Support indie authors!

This was a great read. It can be devoured quite quickly if you want to, but it's also worth taking your time.

The horror pays off but the journey there is great too.

I'd definitely recommend this to all horror fans.

[Nicole Auletto · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent compilation of stories. Brilliant, creepy, I loved it.

[Adperfectamconsilium - Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven short stories showcasing Jamie's fevered imagination, bringing together many horror tropes with great characterisation, humanity, intelligence and surprises.

Dead Air. A very short tale to introduce the collection. The title is literal. The voices of the dead coming over the CB Radio. What will it mean for the trucker and his family?

Insular. How we can feel isolated in life, alone at work or at home. Take this feeling to an extreme and the story drips with a growing feeling of dread. Existential crisis or escape from reality?

Trick or Treat. A Halloween tale. One year on from the gruesome murder of a child. A revenge horror mixed with a monster movie. Unique views of vampires and witchcraft. A gory, gruesome story which doesn't go where you think it will.

The Beach House. A mysterious property overlooking a secluded beach. A very short story of evil.

Alfie and the Dead Girls. A young girl targeted by a paedophile. A father coming to the rescue. A courtcase and a media spotlight. All too frightening in this age of online safeguarding, but also an interesting family drama.

The Woman Under The White Tree. A priest and his apprentice. An exorcism on the crossroads. A link to Alfie and the Dead Girls.
Horrific happenings and the mysterious woman.

I Hear The Clattering Of The Keys. Is the typewriter possessed or it the writer? A tale of obsession, murder and stopping at nothing to release the Ideas. The power that a story holds over the teller.

Everyone will have their own favourites. I can't choose between Insular, Trick or Treat, Alfie and the Dead Girls, and I Hear The Clattering.

A solid collection for horror enthusiasts.
4.5 stars